Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $859 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,314 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,604 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,769 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $2,134 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

Kangar, Perlis is about 20% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kangar, Perlis and Kuala Lumpur are more affordable than the global median – Kangar, Perlis 36% lower, Kuala Lumpur 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.69

$4.57 MYR 18.70

-21.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.06 MYR 78.0

$28.76 MYR 118

-33.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.67 MYR 19.10

$4.77 MYR 19.54

-2.10%

Cappuccino

$2.85 MYR 11.65

$2.99 MYR 12.23

-4.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 MYR 3.00

$0.85 MYR 3.48

-14.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.53 MYR 2.18

-30.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 14.38

$4.23 MYR 17.30

-17.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 MYR 20.85

$5.73 MYR 23.44

-10.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.36

$1.99 MYR 8.13

-9.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.04 MYR 4.26

-2.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.26

$1.68 MYR 6.86

-23.21%

Eggs

$2.07 MYR 8.46

$2.18 MYR 8.94

-5.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.07 MYR 61.7

$14.74 MYR 60.3

2.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 MYR 17.52

$4.59 MYR 18.80

-6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.65 MYR 39.51

$9.54 MYR 39.05

1.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.26

$2.84 MYR 11.61

5.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.25

$1.57 MYR 6.43

-2.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.55

$2.64 MYR 10.82

-2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$1.52 MYR 6.24

-8.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.04

$1.24 MYR 5.06

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$1.36 MYR 5.56

-1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 MYR 4.09

$1.21 MYR 4.95

-17.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.27

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-19.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.45

$4.36 MYR 17.85

-2.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.23 MYR 78.7

$18.75 MYR 76.7

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 MYR 11.14

$3.24 MYR 13.26

-16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 MYR 11.98

$4.40 MYR 18.02

-33.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.84

$0.70 MYR 2.86

-1.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.79

$12.01 MYR 49.17

-0.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.95

$1.15 MYR 4.72

5.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.21

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-10.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 MYR 23.53

$4.68 MYR 19.15

22.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.47 MYR 1.94

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K MYR 144.4K

$40.7K MYR 166.6K

-13.33%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K MYR 126.9K

$32.5K MYR 132.9K

-4.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$43.16 MYR 177

$64.5 MYR 264

-33.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.30 MYR 38.08

$11.31 MYR 46.29

-17.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.35 MYR 120

$25.58 MYR 105

14.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.28 MYR 148

$46.83 MYR 192

-22.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.78 MYR 23.65

$7.89 MYR 32.28

-26.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 20.06

$5.07 MYR 20.76

-3.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$184 MYR 754

$272 MYR 1,114

-32.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,875 MYR 28.1K

$9,520 MYR 39.0K

-27.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 MYR 247

$60.8 MYR 249

-0.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.40 MYR 112

$37.29 MYR 153

-26.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 MYR 303

$87.2 MYR 357

-15.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 MYR 209

$79.0 MYR 323

-35.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 MYR 1,590

$575 MYR 2,352

-32.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,089

$363 MYR 1,487

-26.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 MYR 2,633

$1,089 MYR 4,459

-40.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MYR 1,957

$630 MYR 2,576

-24.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,168 MYR 8,872

$4,177 MYR 17.1K

-48.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,308 MYR 5,351

$1,467 MYR 6,003

-10.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,521 MYR 6,226

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.47

-8.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Kangar, Perlis versus $575 in Kuala Lumpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis versus $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $265 – making Kangar, Perlis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kangar, Perlis vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $859 in Kangar, Perlis, $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur – roughly 25% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,289 per month in Kangar, Perlis and $1,609 in Kuala Lumpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kangar, Perlis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis and $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $859 in Kangar, Perlis and $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $859, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,073. In Kangar, Perlis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kuala Lumpur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $859 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kangar, Perlis. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.